Gave the a bit of a wash, only realised the brake lights won't come on!

It was getting dark and I couldn't take the bulbs off to try them with new bulbs....

but I'm suspecting it's something else as BOTH brake lights are out!

Could it be a blown fuse? I checked the manual and it says something about disconnecting the brake light witch to testing it out...

Or do I need to bleed my brakes?!?!

Any help will be much appreciated....

Thanks!
Ron

[Edited on 24-5-2004 by ronster]

[Edited on 15-6-2004 by ronster]

Check the globes first Ron.
Or have you blown a fuse ???
Did you knock the wire of the master cyclinder under the car ???

check also where brake light wire joins into fuse box thats where mine was funny when my brake lights didnt work

Btw, I have a 74L bug...

Just had a look at the manual

apparently fuse no. 11 i.e. the 2nd fuse from the right is for the horn and brake lights...

my horn is still working, so it's prob not the fuse??

Dave: where abouts is the wire of the master cylinder? we are talking about the brake light switch wires? sorry, as you can tell i have abolutely no idea, can you see it without jacking the car up?

pod: i should be able to see the wire inside the car right?

thanks again for the tips guys, please keep them coming!
:beer

Ron

The master cylinder is on the opposite side of the brake pedal under the fuel tank.. If You take the RH Front wheel off You should be able to get at it..
It could be the brake switch.. to test the brake switch, hold the two wires - terminals from the brake switch together while the ignition is ON... have someone check if the brake lights come on... If the lights come on its probably the brake switch... Just to be sure push the terminals on, or screw them back on [depending on model] and test them again, if they still don't work.. its the brake switch... if they don't work at all, whatever You try.. take the leanses off and move the bulbs about maybe they got wet... check to see if the brake filaments are still OK.. the brake filaments are the thick ones.. the thin ones are the tail lamps... do the tail lamps work?? if they don't work its most likely an earthing problem... Its NOT impossible for the two brake lamps to fail.. Both My Headlamps low beam failed a while back on the same night.... Headlamps and tail lamps are on seperate fuses, I think both stop lamps are on the one fuse...

Lee --
Best of Luck...

Hi Lee,

Thanks for the reply!
Yes, both tail lamps are ok, no problems there, the indicators and reverse lights are fine too.

Will test the brake switch...

Ron

Check the bulbs, they are fine, tail lights come on properly...

Here is a pic I took this arvo, the black thing in the middle with two wires feeding into it, is that the brake switch????

Ron

[Edited on 23-5-2004 by ronster]

[Edited on 15-6-2004 by ronster]

Am I supposed to pull the plug out and hold the end of the two wires together to check if the lights will come on?

yes

do you have or know how to use a multimeter???

Hi Barry,

Yeh, I have a multimeter, so I should check each terminal before I jump the two wires together?

It's really hard to reach down there as I only have the factory jack
:P

Thanks!
Ron

Sorry, brain dead as always, i should test the switch with the multimeter right?!

Ron

Both

Check to see if you have 12 volts on one of the wires

If no - work back up the circuit - eg fuse, terninal connections

If yes then do a conitiuity test on the switch. If that is ok make sure the 12 volts goes through the switch.
I once had a switch that would test ok when i used a ohm meter but failed when 12 volts was applied.

Took a long time to sort THAt one out!

TTFN

Got home pretty late last night and realised the right brake light was out AGAIN!

They were fixed when I had the switch replaced last week...

I guess it's prob a different problem as the left brake light is fine and both tail lights are fine, a bad contact maybe...

Hate it when it happens AT THE END of the long weekend!!!! :cry

oh well, gotta wait till the weekend to get it fixed, at least i can still drive the car!

If one is working it wont be the switch.

Check fuse first.
If ok the check the bulb

even a loose bulb, dirty or wet contact on bulb will do it...
clean bulb & tail/stop lamp contacts with points file or emery paper... should be nice & clean...
some times just hitting a tail lamp will bring them back on...
or turn them off !!

Lee --